In a ground-breaking decision, CM Nitish Kumar on Wednesday directed officials from the science and technology and health and medical education departments to take the necessary steps to ensure that at least 33.3 percent of seats in all engineering and medical colleges are reserved for girls.
“The proposed 33.3% quota for girls would be implemented in all engineering and medical colleges across the state from the coming academic session (2021-22). With this, Bihar would become the first state (in the country) to provide a 33.3% horizontal quota for girls in the technical college", a secretary rank IAS Officer said.
Chairing a high-level meeting through video conferencing from his residence, Nitish said, “The reservation of minimum 33.3% seats for the fair sex will lead to further increase in the number of women in all technical institutions. It would be a unique thing. With this decision, women will be more motivated to pursue technical and higher education.”
The CM also stated that engineering colleges would be established in all 38 districts of the state. In recent years, the state has also seen the establishment of a number of medical colleges.
"Our main aim is that the boys and girls of Bihar would not have to go outside the state to pursue the study of engineering and medical courses,” Nitish said at the meeting.
The CM also reviewed two proposals, which will be presented in the next session of the state assembly, for the establishment of two new universities dedicated solely to engineering and medical science streams.
After the proposed Bills are passed, all engineering colleges in the state will be governed by the proposed ‘Bihar Engineering University,' and all medical colleges will be governed by the proposed ‘Bihar University of Medical Sciences.'
The state currently has 38 government-run engineering colleges and 17 private engineering colleges. All of these colleges would be part of the proposed Bihar Engineering University.
Bihar currently has nine public medical colleges and six private medical colleges. Eleven more medical colleges are being built across the state. All of these medical schools would be part of the proposed ‘Bihar University of Medical Sciences.'
Apart from these two new universities, the Nitish government intends to establish two more – one for sports and one for art and culture.
